12. Reading and Writing a Reader Response

READING & WRITING A READER RESPONSE

Objectives

When you have finished this section, you will be able to

§  differentiate between reading to comprehend and reading to learn (evaluate);

§  apply your learning about summarizing, outlining, and writing a thesis with supports while crafting a reader response

Resource List

1)      The key focus of a reader response essay: http://trccwritingcenter.pbworks.com/w/page/9356011/Reader%20Response%20Papers

2)      A very brief explanation of the reader response:
http://virginialynne.hubpages.com/hub/How-to-Write-a-Reading-Response-Essay

3)      In detail, the nuances of reader response: http://utminers.utep.edu/omwilliamson/engl0310link/readerresponse.htm

Key Concepts

§  Reader Response

§  Critique

§  Evaluate

Procedure

A.    Before Class

1.    Complete the online activities for Week 5. Reflect on your work.

2.    Survey the websites provided in the Resource List above.

3.    Read websites 1 & 2 and scan/skim website 3 for more information.

B.    In Class

1.    Do Task A (30 minutes).

2.    Complete Task B (60 minutes).

C.    After Class

1.    Review the Reading Response Rubric on the course website.

2.    Edit your Reader Response paper. Bring it to the next class for a formal peer review.

Tasks

A.    Reflection

1.     Take 10 minutes to reflect critically on your learning during E-learning week. Write

 brief  answers to the following questions.

(a)    What did you do for this course during e-learning week (list the items)? 

(b)    What did you find beneficial?

(c)     What were your challenges?

(d)    What would you have done differently if you could have?

2.     Once you have finished writing answers to the questions, join a partner or a small 

       group and share your answers orally. Be prepared to consolidate your group’s  

       answers and share them with the rest of the class.

B.   Application

 Using the materials that you created during E-learning week for one of the articles,

 craft a Reader Response. Be sure to do each of the following as you write:

(a)    Very briefly summarize the article that you are focusing upon. Make sure to  

   include a reference to the author’s name and the name of the article. Within the

   summary, paraphrase the article’s main idea.

(b)    Next, pinpoint one key idea described in the article that you are going to

  evaluate in your response.

(c)     Write a statement (thesis) of agreement or disagreement in which you give your

  opinion about the focal point you identified in (b).

(d)    Support your opinion with information from the article, from other information

  you have read, and from your own experience.

(e)    Conclude with a very brief restatement of your main idea.

Note submisions of drafts 1 and 2